These sunny summer days have us grilling outside, running on the lawn barefoot and enjoying fresh fruit pies whenever we get the chance. While we are blessed with an abundance of farmers’ markets in San Mateo County, nothing beats getting out to the actual farm every now and again, picking the goods yourself and getting your hands a little dirty. We’ve compiled a list of our favorite Bay Area u-pick fruit farms, from all the way down in Hollister, to the stone fruit mecca of Brentwood and up to our favorite, sweet little apple ranch in Petaluma. We’re sure you will find a spot to make a fun day out of fruit picking, well into Fall.
R & R Fresh Farms
2310 Pescadero Creek Road, Pescadero, CA 94060
Raspberries, blackberries and olallieberries + strawberries and pumpkins when it season.
Berry Island Farms
10385 Watsonville Road, Gilroy, CA 95020
Organic berries: strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, boysenberries and olallieberries. And they’re really known for their sweet, heirloom strawberries.
Blue House Farm
950 La Honda Road, San Gregorio, CA 94074
Organic vegetable and cut flowers year-round, u-pick option and a pumpkin patch in the fall.
Swanton Berry Farm
25 Swanton Road, Davenport, CA 95017
The first organic strawberry farm in California! Offering a variety of u-pick options nearly year-round (even kiwi in the winter!), incredible jams and baked goods.
Gilroy U-Pick
10541 Korn Lane, Gilroy, CA 95020
U-pick options for; cherries, strawberries, blackberries, plums/pluots, watermelons, cantaloupes, corn and string beans!
Moffatt Ranch
1870 Walnut Blvd, Brentwood, CA 94513
Out of all the peach farms in Brentwood, Moffatt is our first choice. So many varietals; flavor crest, sincerest, fay, elberta, elegant lady, o’henry, as well as spicy zee, fantastia, arctic jay and July red nectarines. They also offer killer Asian pears!
Swank Farms
4751 Pacheco Pass Highway, Hollister, CA 95023
Incredible fields of pumpkins and sunflowers in the fall— and do not miss their stand at the CSM Farmers’ Market on Saturday’s in San Mateo. Their fresh salsas are a favorite.
Chileno Valley Ranch
5105 Chileno Valley Road, Petaluma, CA 94952
U-pick apples and pears Aug-early October. Beef and lamb also for sale as well as an apple juice press on site you can use. Great setup for kids and the countryside drive out there sure is beautiful.
If you make it out to any of these wonderful Bay Area u-pick fruit farms this summer, please tag us in your photos– we would love to see what you’re picking, and even better; what you’re cooking with the fruit!
